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"Potter!" Snape snapped suddenly, his eyes piercing. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Harry matched Snape's gaze, a calmness settling over him as he internally communicated with Nigel. "What's with this sudden quiz, Nigel?" he inquired silently, maintaining his composure.

Nigel's response was prompt, his tone laced with a hint of amusement. "Ah, it seems Professor Snape is attempting to unsettle you, Master Harry. He's not your most ardent admirer, but you're more than capable of handling this."

Meanwhile, Snape, with a smug expression, taunted, "Tut, tut -- fame clearly isn't everything." He deliberately ignored Hermione Granger's eager hand, focusing solely on trying to undermine Harry.

"Let's try again, Potter. Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" Snape's question was another thinly veiled attempt to catch Harry off-guard.

Hermione's hand shot up even higher, her eagerness to answer palpable in the tension of her arm. Despite her efforts, Snape's cold eyes remained fixed on Harry, ignoring her completely.

"And what is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Snape added, his tone dripping with disdain.

Hermione, unable to contain herself, stood up, her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling. Snape, however, remained indifferent to her, his focus unwavering on Harry.

Harry, unfazed, finally responded, his voice steady and clear. "Asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save one from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite."

Snape, visibly taken aback by Harry's correct answers, struggled to mask his shock and anger. "Why didn't you answer when I first asked you?" he demanded, his voice laced with irritation.

Harry met Snape's glare with a composed expression. "Professor, I believe it's essential to give others a chance to answer, especially those who are keen to participate," he said, subtly indicating Hermione without breaking eye contact with Snape. "But I am always ready to respond when it's clear that no one else will."

Snape, caught off guard by Harry's diplomatic response, was visibly conflicted. He wanted to deduct points and reprimand Harry, but as a Slytherin, he couldn't bring himself to penalize his own house. The internal struggle was evident in his expression.

Nigel's voice chimed in Harry's mind, "Well navigated, Master Harry. You've managed to turn a potential setback into an opportunity to demonstrate both your knowledge and respect for your classmates. Snape may be a tough nut to crack, but you've certainly given him something to ponder."

Snape's final snare, "You are to answer when asked," cut through the tension in the Potions classroom. Harry, maintaining his composure, simply nodded, "Understood, sir." Snape, still carrying a hint of frustration, turned to the rest of the class, "Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?" The students hastily began to scribble notes, ensuring they captured every detail of Harry's precise answers.

As the class shifted to the practical segment, Snape instructed them to pair up and gather ingredients from the cellar. Harry caught Neville's eye, giving him a nod, signaling their partnership. Neville, relieved to have Harry as his partner, approached him.

The task was to brew the Cure for Boils Potion, a staple in the first-year curriculum. The original recipe called for four ingredients: Dried nettles, six snake fangs, four horned slugs, and two porcupine quills. Neville, book in hand, began to read the instructions, but Harry gently closed the book. "You won't need that. Come," he said, leading Neville to the ingredients cupboard.

Harry's approach to potion-making differed significantly from the standard recipe. With their ingredients gathered, Harry led Neville back to their cauldron. "Now, watch closely," he said, starting to prepare the potion. As they neared the potion's completion, Harry reflected on the importance of ingredient maturity, particularly the nettle leaves and snake fangs. "Their age and quality play a significant role in the potion's potency," he remarked.

Neville, observing the potion's final form, was impressed. "It's incredible, Harry. I never knew potion-making could be so... intricate."

But at this moment, Professor Snape appeared behind Harry and Neville. His tall figure loomed over them as he peered into the cauldron, then glanced at the leftover ingredients on the table. His voice, laced with a hiss of surprise, broke the silence. "What do you think you are doing?"

Harry remained calm, but Neville, beside him, was visibly nervous. They had deliberately deviated from the formula in the textbook, and Snape's sudden appearance could spell trouble.

"Respectfully, sir," Harry began, his voice steady, "you instructed us to brew a Cure for Boils Potion, not necessarily to follow the formula in the book verbatim."

Snape's dark eyes scrutinized the contents of the cauldron once more. "And this is it?" he asked, his tone skeptical.

"Yes, sir," Harry affirmed confidently.

Snape's gaze shifted between Harry and the cauldron. "You added Dittany and Flobberworm Mucus." He leaned in, sniffing the potion. "Dittany to complement the Nettle Leaves, and Flobberworm Mucus for consistency."

His expression, though stern, betrayed a flicker of intrigue. "Where did you get this formula?"

Harry tilted his head slightly, maintaining eye contact. "It is my own creation, sir."

Snape's brow furrowed slightly, skepticism evident in his voice. "Tell me the truth, Potter." He suspected Harry might have discovered Lily's old potion notes. Lily had been almost as proficient as Snape in her potion-making skills before she shifted her focus to Charms.

"I am telling the truth, sir," Harry replied, his gaze unwavering.

Snape's demand was clear. "Explain how you developed it."

Harry took a deep breath, preparing to detail his thought process. "It began with understanding the nature of each ingredient, sir. For the Cure for Boils Potion, the traditional recipe focuses primarily on the anti-inflammatory properties of the Nettle Leaves. However, I theorized that enhancing the potion's healing efficacy could be beneficial, especially for more severe cases of boils."

He gestured towards the cauldron. "I chose to add Dittany, known for its remarkable healing properties. Its inclusion works synergistically with the Nettle Leaves, enhancing their effectiveness while adding a layer of restorative quality to the potion."

Snape listened, his expression unchanging, but his eyes showed a hint of curiosity.

"Furthermore," Harry continued, "the traditional recipe lacks a certain consistency in its texture, which can affect the application on boils. To address this, I grated horned slugs and added them to the mixture. Their mucus serves as a binding agent, ensuring a smoother texture and more even application on the skin."

Snape's eyes narrowed slightly, but he made no interruption, prompting Harry to proceed.

"As for the Snake Fangs," Harry said, "I opted for a fine grind, which enhances their reactivity when added to the potion. The key is to add them gradually, maintaining a controlled reaction and preventing the potion from becoming volatile."

Harry paused, ensuring Snape was following his explanation. "The Porcupine Quills are another vital component. By cutting them into uniform half-inch lengths, I ensured they dissolve evenly, contributing to the overall stability of the potion."

Snape's demeanor remained stoic, but the subtle shift in his posture indicated he was considering Harry's words.

"Finally," Harry concluded, "I added Flobberworm Mucus as the last ingredient. It binds everything together while smoothing out the texture, creating a more effective and stable potion overall."

He looked directly at Snape. "Sir, the potion's effectiveness hinges on the meticulous choice and sequence of ingredient addition. The aim was to enhance its potency and usability."

Snape stared at Harry for a long moment, his gaze intense. Then, slowly, he nodded, a grudging respect evident in his eyes. "Very well, Potter. Let's see the results of your... experimentation."

Bottling the potion, Harry carefully presented it to Professor Snape for inspection. The potion's refined texture and consistent coloration were evident, even to the most critical eye. Snape, holding the bottle up to the light, examined it with an intensity that betrayed his inner conflict. As much as he didn't want to admit it, the potion before him was of a quality that surpassed even some of the concoctions he had seen from professional potion masters.

'This child is a prodigy,' Snape thought reluctantly, his pride as a Potions Master warring with his personal feelings toward Harry. He handed the bottle back to Harry, his voice grudgingly respectful. "Not bad, Potter. But let's test your adaptability. What if you were to alter the order of ingredients and their preparations like this?"

Snape then challenged Harry with a new formula. "What if you add Snake Fangs first, then Pungous Onions, dried nettles, a dash of Flobberworm Mucus, a sprinkle of powdered ginger root. Then add pickled Shrake spines. Add a glug of stewed horned slugs, finally add porcupine quills?"

The class, captivated by the exchange between Harry and Snape, watched with bated breath, their own cauldrons bubbling away neglected. Harry closed his eyes, deeply analyzing the proposed formula. In his mind, a virtual simulation of the potion's brewing process unfolded, guided by his expansive knowledge and the insight provided by Nigel.

Harry closed his eyes, focusing deeply on Snape's proposed formula. In his mind, he visualized each step, analyzing the potential interactions and outcomes. Nigel's voice provided a running commentary, assisting Harry in his mental simulation.

"Adding Snake Fangs first would initiate a more aggressive reaction, Master Harry. But be mindful of the timing and the subsequent addition of Pungous Onions," Nigel advised, his tone analytical.

Harry imagined slicing the Pungous Onions finely, considering how their potent essence would interact with the crushed snake fangs. He mentally stirred the mixture, adding dried nettles next. The nettles, he knew, would have to be added at a precise moment to prevent an overpowering bitterness.

Harry nodded internally, adding the mucus with caution in his mind's eye. The next step, a sprinkle of powdered ginger root, intrigued him. "The ginger could add a warmth to counterbalance the coolness of the nettles," he thought.

Harry envisioned stirring the Shrake spines gently into the potion, ensuring they integrated without causing any adverse reactions. The addition of stewed horned slugs followed, their mucus adding a unique binding quality to the concoction.

"The final touch, porcupine quills, will need precise timing. Too early, and they'll dissolve too much; too late, and they won't integrate properly," Nigel advised.

Harry simulated the addition of the quills in his mind, then mentally waved his wand over the cauldron, completing the potion.

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